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BWA Newsletter - Winter 2008A Bluffland Whitetails Association quarterly publication for
Venison program off to a great first year!Minnesota’s venison program had a successful first year. The final tally isn’t in yet, but over 2,000 deer were donated to Minnesota meat processors for free processing. BWA introduced legislation two years ago to make this program a reality. The venison donation bill passed the legislature last winter under the sponsorship of Representative Rick Hansen and Senator Sharon Ropes-Erickson in. BWA and the state of Minnesota extend our thanks to them for their leadership in this excellent program. Funding for the first year came from donations that hunters gave when purchasing a deer hunting license. In addition, funds were allocated from the state general fund and an increase in non-resident deer licenses. Next year funds will come from donations made at license purchases and an increase in bonus tags. This year there was about $51,000 donated by license buyers. Lou Cornicelli, from the Minnesota DNR, stated “The main issue we had this year was license agents not asking the donation question. We found that when the hunter was asked, they tended to contribute. However, many agents failed to ask the question, and hunters were never given the opportunity to donate. Hopefully, as the program gains support and recognition, our agents will do a better job asking the question.” Cornicelli went on to say “Overall, I couldn’t be happier that Minnesota finally has a funded venison donation program, and I commend BWA for their tireless work to bring this program to our state. I look forward to working with BWA on determining ways to increase awareness, funding and donations.” In recent years, Iowa and Wisconsin have started venison donation programs that have become very successful. This year the two states had over 15,000 deer donated, processed and distributed through their state’s charity organizations. This resulted in thousands of high-protein meals for people in need. Minnesota’s donations started small with local individuals raising money for the processing. One of the pioneers in this effort was Betty Wilkens. She started years ago in her local community getting money to process the meat and then find an end user. Later she worked with Lou Cornicelli of the Minnesota DNR and the Minnesota Department of Agriculture to get all of the paperwork and details in line for this program to grow and become statewide. Ms. Wilkens commented in a recent phone call “The 2007 venison donations provided a solid start to a valuable program which I believe will grow and improve every year.” BWA thanks Betty Wilkens and Lou Cornicelli for getting the program past the infant stage and ready for statewide growth. There are more advantages to the program. Providing an outlet for hunters extra deer will help the DNR manage herd numbers in permit areas with excess herd numbers. Most hunters do not have a need for meat from more than one deer. Marrett Grund, Minnesota’s DNR research biologist in charge of managing herd numbers, commented “This is a great program that some states have had in place for a number of years. I’m glad to see that we’re catching up and are in the process of developing a program that illustrates what a positive role deer hunters can play in today’s society.” Lastly, thanks to all the BWA members that made this program happen!
BWA Annual Meeting heldBluffland Whitetails Association held its annual meeting on December 12, 2007, at the Moose Lodge in St. Charles, MN. Several board members' terms expired, and we sincerely thank them for the time, energy, and talent they have given our organization. Their contributions would be hard to overstate, and we hope they will stay actively involved. Stepping down from the board are Colin Williams and Allen Iverson. Jack Peck, Francis White and Collin Johnson were re-elected to serve a second term as directors. Dan Blum was elected to a director position and is new to the board. Todd Grimes was elected as director and has served on the board in the past. It’s great having Todd back on board, and great to have Dan Blum step up. Welcome aboard. The meeting consisted of long discussions on the success of the venison donation program and the up and coming shining bill; plus many other important issues, goals, and plans for the coming year. Member input is important, so please consider attending one or more of our monthly business meetings. Meeting dates and locations are on the back page of our newsletters.
A message from BWA's president...Another year has passed and with it another hunting season. Hopefully everyone had some memorable events this past season; something that will stir lifelong memories. Did that elusive buck finally show up near your stand after two years of trail cam pictures, lost sleep, and passing many lesser bucks? Were you fortunate enough to have a son or daughter harvest their first deer? It's very rewarding to hear hunters talk about their experiences and some of the bucks that were spared. It seems more hunters are enjoying the hunt although they didn't harvest a buck. The concept of harvesting does and passing small bucks is becoming more popular among deer hunters, and many of the younger hunters seem eager to help manage the deer herd. With the venison donation program off to a good start with 70 processors on board, it's never been easier to harvest antlerless deer from over-populated areas and have the venison end up on kitchen tables of low-income families. It’s a win/win situation for the herd, the families, and the processors. Every year I talk with hunters who have abandoned the traditional deer drives as they realize they enjoy the more challenging, quiet, become "part of the forest" type hunting. These same hunters also understand the drives tend to displace the deer onto other property that may have the "brown is down" type hunting philosophy. Many hunters and BWA members feel like the push to improve the buck-doe ratio and the buck age structure is not moving as fast as they would like to see. This is certainly true, however, I feel we have made some real progress; at least in scattered areas across southeast Minnesota. Changing hunters’ attitudes on a large scale is a slow process. We can all help by encouraging our relatives, friends, and neighbors to help manage the herd. The venison donation program will help. We are planning on introducing a bill into the Legislature this year to further restrict shining. Shining would be limited to one hour after sunset with no guns in the vehicle whatsoever. If we get this into law, it will make a dent into the poaching of mature bucks. Generally speaking, only the bigger bucks get poached. This also is an area where everyone can help. The conservation officers need all of us to report shining violations or suspicious activity. If you see a vehicle driving slowly at midnight in October, they are probably up to no good. Land access is always a big problem in all states. Hopefully, someday, Minnesota will develop some kind of public walk in areas on private land similar to some of the Western states. If you hunt on other people’s property, please show your appreciation for that privilege. The same holds true if you hunt on relatives’ property. Give them some help during the summer or do something meaningful for them. Hats off to Lou Cornicelli of the Minnesota DNR for his efforts on promoting the venison donation program. Lou pulled this off without a budget; and for the most part, it went very well. Thanks Lou.
—Gary Bartsch, president
Member profile
Mark Vagts
Today, most of my outdoor recreation time is spent hunting whitetail deer with bow, shotgun, or muzzleloader. In the spring I also add turkey hunting, mostly just to get some more outdoor time midyear. Although I have yet to harvest a trophy size deer, it’s not that important to me. As I tell my non-hunting friends, if I somehow found out tomorrow that I would not harvest another deer for the rest of my life, I would not change my hunting plans for the next 25+ years. My brother and dad are my best friends, and I look forward each fall to spending time with them enjoying the outdoors. To me, that is what hunting is really about. In my opinion, BWA, in cooperation with the Minnesota DNR, have made some great changes for deer hunting in Minnesota. Some of these changes include the youth hunts, changes in season dates, early doe seasons, additional doe tags, and the venison donation program. My thanks goes out to the BWA leadership for their hard work and efforts. I know there are also many volunteers who have spent hundreds of hours and dollars silently working for our sport; thank you. In conclusion, I also want to thank BWA leadership for taking the high road and working positively and politely with the Minnesota DNR. As a public employee myself, I know personally what it is like to receive public criticism towards me and my work. I am sure that most Minnesota DNR employees are outdoor people themselves and take pride in their work. Therefore, I have always felt it important to remain positive and have a good working relationship with the DNR, and I believe the BWA leadership has done this well.
Search for locked antlers for special display at 3rd Annual Minnesota Deer & Turkey ExpoWould you like to see a special display of locked whitetail deer antlers at the Minnesota Deer & Turkey Expo in Owatonna? Of course. So would the producers of the Expo, and they are making a search to find sets of locked antlers for such a display. "Antlers must be big before they can lock during a fight. This type of display occupies quite a bit of square footage, so we'll be limited to the first 18 sets. We'll take them on a first-come, first-served basis; that's the only fair way," said Glenn Helgeland of Target Communications, producer of the Expo. Locked antlers aren't a statistical rarity, but every time they are found they are newsworthy. The 3rd Annual Minnesota Deer & Turkey Expo will be March 7-8-9 at the Four Seasons Centre in Owatonna. Helgeland is asking anyone who knows of or has locked antlers to call him (1-800-324-3337) during the day (central daylight time) or send him an e-mail (glenn@deerinfo.com). "Locked antlers are tragic reminders of the harshness of Mother Nature and her operating rules, because they almost always result in the deaths of two magnificent animals," Helgeland adds. "That almost always takes some of the biggest and the best from the breeding population." Special transportation, display and security arrangements will be made for each set of locked antlers, Helgeland said. Arrangements must be made in advance of the Deer & Turkey Expo. It is preferred that the locked sets be brought in by noon Friday, March 7, so they can be set up and on display when the event opens at 2 p.m. that day. They must remain on display until the close of the show at 4 p.m., Sunday, March 9. For details on the 3rd Annual Minnesota Deer & Turkey Expo, March 7-8-9, at the Four Seasons Centre in Owatonna, go to the event's website www.deerinfo.com.
BWA financial updateLast spring at the St. Charles Banquet, I overheard a couple of respected BWA members talking when a curious statement by one of them caught my ear. “Where does all the money go?” After chuckling a bit because I knew our account balances, I realized that the majority of BWA members are for the most part unaware of our financial situation and that to my knowledge our newsletter has not had a financial briefing in the recent past. So here it goes; a summary of annual finances to hopefully satisfy any curiosity out there. Banquets remain our biggest source of income, but with that they are also very expensive and difficult to put on. The difficulty is not only the planning and the leg work but the uncertainty of their financial success. Most who attend banquets see that there are thousands of dollars being exchanged which does understandably give the impression that BWA profits from “all that money.” This, unfortunately, is not the case. With BWA being a smaller organization with limited resources, most of our banquet prizes are bought and not donated. Donations at a typical banquet total only $3,000-$5,000, or less than 1/5 of the total prize package. With BWA’s size and status, the State of Minnesota only allows us two annual banquets with a combined total of $50,000 in prizes. Then, factor in the average banquet income per person being about $150. Finally, subtract the banquet expenses (meal, facility, beverages and, of course, prizes). When everything is said and done, our total profit from a modestly successful banquet is in the $5,000 range. That may not seem like a lot, and it’s not, but again, being a small volunteer organization, our yearly expenses are also relatively small, and we are able to make ends meet with that and other income. Most present and past directors would tell you that fundraising has never been a priority with BWA. Banquets were originally set up to “spread the word” through education, have fun and pay some bills; probably in that order. But as many of you know, education is not what most banquet guests are there for. Today we define a successful banquet by people having fun and turning a modest profit. A simplified overview of other income and expenses for the year 2007 are listed below. Income:
Expenses:
2007 proved to be a relatively quiet year financially with income exceeding expenses. But each year seems to write its own story. For example, in 2006, BWA spent about $5,000 more than was brought in. Factors for that included less successful banquets, the purchase of a major item (i.e. computer), and more money spent on donations ($2,500) and educational programs ($1740). In summary, thanks to a lot of dedicated, hard-working volunteers, BWA can operate fairly well on a surprisingly small and simple budget. The Board of Directors hopes this overly-simplified summary gives you a better understanding of how and where your donated dollars are being used. We also welcome you as members to attend our monthly meetings and provide us with your feedback on how BWA can possibly better utilize our limited funds to improve deer hunting in zone 3.
Trophy Deer, Bear & Moose Contest at 3rd Annual Minnesota Deer & Turkey ExpoYou’re invited to enter your trophy Minnesota whitetail buck, black bear or moose in the Miller High Life Trophy Contest at the 3rd Annual Minnesota Deer & Turkey Expo, March 7-8-9, 2008, at the Four Seasons Centre on the Steele County Fairgrounds in Owatonna. There also is an out-of-state category for whitetail buck entries. Basic entry fee is $12; in return you get a three-day pass ($18 value). More than 125 entries are expected.
Contest Rules:
Woodland stewardship
Jim Edgar Most of the articles I have written for this newsletter have recommended that the readers do some work in the woods that you own or hunt in. The work recommended should increase survival and/or growth of trees, improve the habitat provided by the forest, protect the soil and water or otherwise take good care of the forest. A word that describes that good care of the forest is stewardship. Webster’s definition of stewardship includes: the individual’s responsibility to manage his life and property with proper regard to the rights of others. By that definition, good stewardship of forestland is: using forestland for your own purposes while leaving it in productive and healthy condition when you sell it or otherwise no longer own and manage that property. Using the woodland and leaving it for the next owner in as good or better condition than when you acquired it is good stewardship. Due to the many benefits to society that come from private forestland (clean water, decreased water runoff, wildlife, aesthetics, timber and other forest products), federal and state governments have programs to assist with the management of private forest lands. One form of assistance from the federal government that is implemented by state forestry agencies is the Woodland Stewardship Program. A large portion of this program is in the form of Woodland Stewardship Plans written for the owners of private forestland. Stewardship Plans are an effective method of putting forest management information into the hands of the owners of private forestland. The program is designed for ownerships of 20 acres or more of woodland or mixed woods and open ground that can be reforested. After a landowner requests a Stewardship Plan (usually after being told by a forester that the service is available), a forester will talk to the landowner to determine what goals they have for the property. The forester will then walk through the woods to take inventory of what resources are present. Information about tree and shrub types, wildlife species, water resources, merchantable timber, problem plants and other information will be gathered. A plan is then written that gives management recommendations to achieve the owner’s goals for the property. In addition to the site-specific recommendations, a Woodland Stewardship Plan in Minnesota consists of a 3-ring binder full of forest management information. Just a few of the topics covered are:
In general, the cost-share programs pay 50 percent of the cost of the project. There are maximum amounts set for the different types of work based on average project costs. The work can be done by the landowner or other qualified individuals. Labor and material used must be itemized, and payment is made on the actual cost of the work done. A contractor can also be hired to do the work. When the work is done and the contractor is paid, the landowner is reimbursed 50 percent of the cost of the work accomplished. This is a short description of the Woodland Stewardship Plan and of how cost share funds work. The best time to start being a good steward of your forest is now. For specific projects, or to see if your woodland is eligible for a Stewardship Plan, contact a DNR Forestry office in the county where your land is located.
Antler trivia quiz1. What triggers the growth of a deer’s antlers?
A. The temperature. 2. A buck’s antlers can grow a half inch per?
A. Day 3. A deer’s antlers will be fully developed after?
A. 4 months 4. Which bucks will be the first to shed their antlers in the winter?
A. 1 1/2 year olds 5. What particular gland is responsible for detecting the proper time and stimulating the growth of new antlers?
A. The tarsal gland 6. Although there is controversy over what gives antlers color, we do know what color they are when the velvet first comes off. They are?
A. White 7. The 1993 world record typical whitetail deer was taken in __ and scored __ in Boone and Crockett?
A. Barnhart, Missouri, 234 1/8 8. Avoiding scientific language, a deer sheds its antlers because of two factors, which are?
A. Temperature and length of day. Answers can be found at the end of this newsletter.
From the treetopsby Jeff Heil, Sr. This is the fourth installment of tips that I will be writing for the BWA newsletters. These tips will aid in a safe and healthy hunt.
After a serious treestand fall in 2002, I have dedicated time to educate the public whenever possible and also donate time to Firearm Safety classes whenever I can.
BWA funds crossbow apparatus for local man
Tim's friend, Bryan Brooks (shown in picture), installed the device and plans to help Tim in the field. Hiawatha Homes of Rochester serves children, adults and families with:
Developmental disabilities
3rd Annual Minnesota Deer & Turkey Expo coming in MarchThe 3rd annual Minnesota Deer & Turkey Expo will be held March 7, 8, and 9, 2008, at the Four Seasons Centre in Owatonna, MN.
NEW in 2008!
Food Plot & Habitat Improvement SeminarsContinuation and expansion of the program/seminars begun in 2007. Gordon Whittington (food plots - basic and advanced) and Tony LaPratt (deer habitat creation and improvement) return, each with longer seminars. Check the seminar schedule for each expo to see exact seminar topic, seminar description and times. Seminars will be given more than once each day. There's a lot of ground to be covered (no pun intended). We'll divide the general topics into workable segments and address them one by one over the next few years.
Food Plot Demonstration AreaAt the introductory demo areas in 2007, you told us you would like to see what the individual forage crop and other nutrition source plants look like. So that's what you will see in 2008—nursery flats of various grain crops, grasses and other deer (and turkey and non-game species) feed sources, one species per flat.
Forage Crop Pocket GuideThis 52-page, info-packet guide book will again be for sale at the Food Plot Demo Area. There's more good info per page in this little booklet than you'll find in any other book.
World's Almost-Largest TreestandClimb the big stairway to a bigger platform for a bird's-eye view of the exhibit floor, then get some good info on treestand safety, where-to-aim info (deer & bear) and other hunting tips.
Trail Camera Photo ContestTrail cameras see some strange things ... and some great big antlers ... when no humans are around. For more information, see the article on the following page of this newsletter.
RETURNING ITEMS
New Products Special Display AreaSince they are new products, by their very nature they change every year. New products from exhibiting manufacturers and company sales representatives are displayed together in one area near the entrance for your viewing and inspection ease. All products are identified by exhibitor name and booth number for easy follow-up to get detailed info you want. Many people don't want a sales person hanging on their elbow when they first look at a new product. This is the perfect opportunity to examine new products on your own. To find this special display, after you have purchased your general admission ticket, go through the right-hand bank of glass doors in the lobby. You'll see the yellow banners with the black NEW PRODUCTS lettering on the north wall of the East Arena.
Seminar speakers
150+ Exhibit boothsThe place to see NEW PRODUCTS and talk face-to-face with factory reps and other knowledgeable industry people. Get your equipment and accessories questions answered here. (An alphabetical list of exhibitors will be published 45 days before the Expo and updated weekly.)
Whitetail Deer, Black Bear, & Moose Trophy Contest and DisplayEnter in the main lobby of the Four Seasons Centre. Registration table will be in the West Arena. Follow the signs. For details, see related article on page 6 of this newsletter.
OTHER EVENTS & ACTIVITIES
Optics Hands-On Information CenterBinoculars and firearms scopes to try out and learn to adjust better for maximum value, maximum use satisfaction.
Cooking Demos -- Venison & Other Wild FoodsA cooking demo will follow each venison butchering & processing demonstration, in the same seminar room. The cooking demo also includes meat packaging, freezing, thawing, seasoning, and serving tips. Come prepared to make notes, and be ready to sample some great flavors.
Shooting Ranges (for kids of all ages)It's true that kids probably enjoy these ranges the most, but who is to specify the true age limits of kids! Airgun, laser firearms, laser archery, NASP (National Archery in Schools Program) archery range are operated under the watchful, instructive eyes of adult range masters for best learning and safe operation. One laser range has big game video footage complete with sound; one has video game-type action. Equipment provided at all ranges.
Byron Ferguson, Archery Trick ShotByron Ferguson and his entertaining archery trick shooting is an annual regular, simply because he's so much fun to see. He will give two performances Saturday, March 8 and two performances Sunday, March 9. He shoots wooden discs and pennies from the air, snuffs a candle with an arrow, shoots ricochet arrows into a target's bullseye, and bursts inflated balloons while shooting from all sorts of twisted positions. Ferguson is a veteran bowhunter and has taken more than 180 whitetails, plus black bear, a record-book mule deer, moose and game birds. Your entire family will enjoy his archery performance.
Identify the Deer HairThere are more configurations and colors of hair on a whitetail deer's body than you would think—various shades of brown and/or gray; various coarseness of dark and white hairs, fineness and lengths of dark and white hairs; various degrees of straightness and curliness, particularly of white hairs. Not only does this make the whitetail deer an even more fascinating animal, but the better you can identify the various types of hair found on a deer's body, the better you can identify the type of hit, and the better you can make your follow-up tracking and trailing plans.
Special Educational Displays
New trail cam photo contest at ExpoA new trail camera photo contest will be one of the highlights of the 2008 Minnesota Deer & Turkey Expo, set for March 7-8-9 at the Four Seasons Centre on the Steele County Fairgrounds in Owatonna. Trail cameras see some strange things – and some big antlers – when humans are not around. The contest is open to all expo attendees; you must first purchase an expo general admission ticket before you can enter the contest. There will be eight categories in the contest: 1) Whitetail deer – bucks; 2) whitetail deer – groups; 3) whitetail deer – other; 4) predators (four-footed and flying; 5) big game other than whitetail deer; 6) wild turkey – gobbler(s); 7) wild turkey – groups, and 8) weird and unusual stuff / miscellaneous. Entry fee is $5 for up to three photos, and $5 for every additional group of one to three photos. Bring your entries to the expo office; no mail-in entries are accepted. Black-and-white or color prints only. Photos may be mounted but cannot include glass and cannot be framed. Image size can be anywhere from 5”x7” minimum to 11”x14” maximum. Your name, address and telephone number, including area code, and choice of contest category, must be on the back of each entry. Entry deadline is 10 a.m. Sunday. Judging will be at noon Sunday. There may be up to three awards per category. Photos must remain on display until 3:00 p.m. Sunday. They will be available for pick-up after that in the expos office. After 3:00 p.m. each photo contest entrant can get in free to pick up his/her photos. You must have a photo contest receipt to get in free at that time. For admission before 3:00 p.m. you must buy a general admission ticket. Photos not picked up will not be returned. For details on the 2008 Minnesota Deer & Turkey Expo, including regular ticket prices and special offers, seminar topics and schedule, hotel and exhibitor lists, and trophy and photo contest rules, directions to the site and parking information, visit the event’s web-site (www.deerinfo.com), e-mail to mac@deerinfo.com or call 1-800-324-3337.
What if...?by Collin Johnson How many times in life have we asked that question? Usually out of purely selfish motives. What if I had a million dollars? What if I could retire at 40 years old? What if I could hunt for a living? What if I had a new car..or gun..or bow? What if... We all find ourselves daydreaming on occasion, that's normal, that's what keeps us motivated to strive for the better. Sadly the "What if?" dream scenarios of our generation are being replaced by more sobering real life "what if?" scenarios for today's youth. What if mom and dad weren’t divorced? What if mom could only have to work one job and be home with us more? What if I could fit in with the other kids at school? What if we had enough money so I could go to camp? What if someone could teach me about nature and to hunt? This may sound to some cliché, depressing or like a bad after school special, but this is the reality of the 21st century. What if...I were to tell you that 41 percent of Minnesota kids go home to an empty house after school? What if I said that today's kids spend over six hours a day in front of a TV or computer? What if I said that over 2 million American teens would have a pre-diabetic condition because of obesity and inactivity? What if I said that one in five children will suffer from disorders including depression and ADHD? What if I was to tell you that the average American kid couldn’t identify common plants and animals in his or her own backyard? What if I said that since 1991 youth participation in hunting has declined more than 30 percent? For generations parents and other family members have sustained our hunting numbers by nurturing our young, probably without even knowing it. But with the complexities of today's demographics and societal trends, the factors needed to introduce kids to the outdoors aren’t as easy to provide as they once were, thus many families are no longer able to provide a home life that is conducive to and encourages hunting. What if...instead....the youthful energies of children were channeled into the excitement of archery, hunting or the outdoors? What if these activities were dormant passions in that child that suddenly gave that child a sense of hope, identity and purpose? What if that child had mentors or teachers who came along side to help? What if that child excelled and had their pain and misfortune replaced with confidence, accomplishment, fulfillment and joy? What if that child, as a result, developed self-respect enough to say "no" to the bad things that come their way? What if that child chose fellow sportsmen as associates instead of druggies and dropouts and spent their time in the woods instead of on the streets or in front of a TV screen? We as sportsmen and women can't sit idly by watching our future lose contact with nature and the sport of hunting that we love so much. Bluffland Whitetails Association has worked very hard over the past nine years to make your hunting experience more enjoyable, and we will continue wholeheartedly in fighting to make zone 3 what it could and should be. But we also have to continue our obligation to provide hunting and outdoor experiences for those who lack opportunity. BWA is teaming up with accomplished archer and La Crescent resident Ray Howell and his Kicking Bear mentoring program to introduce underprivileged, hurt and at-risk kids to the outdoors. BWA is sponsoring a Kicking Bear One-on-One camp to be held August 1-2, 2008, at the Outback Ranch in Houston, MN. Ray Howell's personal story is a testimony to the life-changing and possibly life-saving impact of mentoring. The product of a broken home, Ray grew up in and out of foster homes. Without a permanent father figure, he began getting into trouble. Nothing seemed to stem his misguided spirit for mischief. Then one day while sitting in a jail cell, Ray's probation officer saw him reading a hunting magazine. That probation officer saw the kid in Ray that was in desperate need of a sense of purpose and direction. He offered to take Ray hunting with his family. Four short hunting trips later, Ray realized what he wanted to do with his life. The power of his will to hunt and be outdoors ended all his antisocial behaviors and taught him to strive to be a better hunter. Little did he realize the humility and respect hunting showed him would later mold him into the person God intended him to be. When Ray grew up and matured (not always synonymous), he never forgot the difference one man made in the life of a kid by using the outdoors as a classroom. Eventually Ray retired from his successful welding business, and with the help and blessing of his wife Karen, passionately formed Kicking Bear. Kicking Bear One-on-One is a nationwide non-profit mentoring program that encourages sportsmen and women to get involved with today's youth. The two-day campouts are designed to introduce kids, especially the underprivileged, to the outdoors and the sport of archery; some for the very first time. Kicking Bear is open to all youth from 5 to 15 years old. The program is fully funded through sponsors, run by volunteers and is totally free to all. No child will be turned away. The goal of Kicking Bear is simple—provide an opportunity for children to connect with nature and connect with a sense of community. Kicking Bear kids learn and understand that they are part of a larger environment of land and of people; one they will respect, build upon and sustain rather than mistreat. Since its inception, BWA has always promoted mentorship. Over the years we have been able to successfully introduce many youngsters to the sport that has so richly blessed us. But our work is just beginning. It's easy to take a kid hunting. Especially a kid that already has stability and a desire to hunt. But that stability and desire is slowly fading in this country’s youth. Opportunity is the major reason for this decline. Kids just aren’t given a chance. With one in six children living below the poverty line, and nearly half from broken homes, family priorities are not allowing kids to experience the outdoors. It's nobody's fault. You will find it difficult to place blame. It is just a sad by-product of where our society has taken us. The good news is that this cycle can be broke. Dreams can be put back in the hearts of kids. Ray Howell is an example of this. Our challenge is to reach outside our comfort zone, reach outside our homes and families and embrace underprivileged kids that are in dire need of positive role models. All they need is a little direction, a little supervision and a little bit of your time. Remember, four short hunting trips changed a life, and that life has changed thousands since. Being a mentor is hardly a sacrifice; you will get to relive all the excitement of your firsts again through the eyes of a child. Minnesota offers plenty of hunting seasons. As a matter of fact, enough for everyone to take a child with them a couple of times and still have enough time to pursue their own personal hunting goals. The rewards are too priceless to ignore. What If...?
Answers to Antler Trivia Quiz: 1-C, 2-A, 3-A, 4-D, 5-D, 6-A, 7-B, 8-D
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Some of my earliest memories as a child are with my father and brother in a tree stand. My father took us both along many times hunting when I am sure he would have rather had some quiet time alone in a tree. But he shared his time and passion for hunting, fishing, and the outdoors with us both early on.
Early this fall, Hiawatha Homes Inc., of Rochester, a residential, in-home, and community-based organization for people with disabilities, contacted BWA for funding to purchase an apparatus to mount a crossbow onto the mobile chair of resident Tim Kay.
The board of directors agreed to assist in this project, and as seen in the included pictures, this has become a reality for Tim.